Folding-case bedstead



NAPETERS, PHOTOLITHQGRAPHER, WASHINGTON, D c.

, UNITED sTATiis PATENT OFFICE.

ETI-IAN VHI'INEY, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS.

FOLDING-CASE BEDSTEAID.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 30,101, dated September 18, 1,860.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ETHAN IVHITNEY, of Lynn, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improved Folding-Case Bedstead; and I do hereby de- Clare the same to be fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, of which- Figure, 1, is a front elevation; Fig., 2, a side elevation, and Fig., 3, a transverse section of it when its parts are closed or folded together. Fig., 4, is a top view; Fig., 5, a longitudinal section, and Fig., 6, a horizontal section of it when the case is in an unfolded state or is arranged for being used for the purpose of a bedstead.

In the drawings, A, exhibits the supporting stand, which is constructed open in front and so as to be capable of receiving within it awash stand B, or other similarly shaped article of furniture when the parts C, D, comprising the bed foundation oase are in an upright position as shown in Figs., 1, and 3. This part A, may be made partially open at the back, or in other words with a back, a, not so high as its ends, o, b, but of such an altitude as will enable it to receive upon its upper edge and support the rear part D, of the foundation case when the said part D, is in the position as shown in Figs. 4t, and 5. Each of the said parts, C, D, is constructed in the form of a box, except that it is without a top and has one side only. lIhey are arranged together and within the stand A, and between its two ends as shown in the drawings and they are hinged together as exhibited at CZ, CZ, each hinge pin e, being supported by and projected from the next adjacent end of the stand, A. Each of such hinge pins is also arranged nearly at the top of the end of the case, A, or in other words, having its hinge above the upper surface of the wash stand B, and about in the middle of the stand A, whenr the wash stand B, is in place within the said stand A, the whole being so that after the wash stand may have been removed from the stand A, the two parts C, D, may be turned from their up right positions downward and in opposite directions into horizontal ones as shown in Figs. 4, and 5.

Fig. 7, is a top view of the stand A, and represents the spring stops or catches, f, f, by which the parts, C, D, Vare maintained in vertical positions. Each of these stops consists of a spring fastened to the end 0f the stand A, and having a retracting handle, g,

projects from its outer surface as shown in the drawings. While the parts C, D, are in their upright positions they rest on the stops. Preparatory to each part C, or D, being turned downward, its stop should be withdrawn from under it. A mattress E, made in two parts, L, z., may be placed within the said parts C, D, or may be supported on a suitable bed foundation arranged in such parts and constructed so as to fold and unfold with them. Furthermore, I apply to the rear part, D, a cornice or project-ing cap, F, to extend over the part, C, as shown in Figs. l, and 2, when the two parts, C, D, are in upright positions. The cap F, answers both as a cornice or iinish to the bedstead and as a cover to the joint between the parts C, D, when they are in upright positions. Under these latter circumstances it will prevent dust. from passing into the oint and upon the bedding that may at any time be within such parts, C, D. The part F, also serves as a head board for the bedstead.

To the front face of the part, C, a table or leaf, G, is hinged so as to be capable of being turned down from a vert-ical into a horizontal position when the part, C, is in a vertical position. To this leaf I connect a leg, Z, by a hinge m, arranged at the upper end of the said leg. The said leg, I extend down the middle of the leaf and in a panel a, thereof and so as to apparently separate each panel into two panels. Furthermore, I apply to the part C, two shorter legs 0, j), which I arrange therein as shown in the drawings. Each of these legs I hinge at. its outer end to the said part C, and so as to enable the leg to be turned outward at a right angle with the front face of the part, C. Then so turned out, the legs, o, p, should be long enough to rest on the floor on which the stand A may be, the legs under such circumstances serving to sustain the part, C, when in a horizontal position. The third leg answers two purposes, viz, either to support the leaf when the latter is turned down into a horizontal position or to support the part, C, in an inclined position.

It is often the case, that an invalid may require that part or half of a bed, on which his or her legs may repose to be raised or inclined somewhat with respect to the part on which his body may rest. In diseases or displacement of certain internal organs of the human system, this is specially desirable in order to prevent such organs from pressing too much on, or being too much pressed upon by others or other parts or organs. My bedstead enables the invalid to avail himself of this advantage as well as to elevate the part D, or both parts, C, and D, into a position more or less inclined relatively to the horizon.

After the two parts C, D, may have been raised into upright positions, the wash stand may be inserted in the stand A, and thus the construction of the said stand A, so as to receive the washstand or other article as described, renders my bedstead of much value as it enables the whole bedstead and the waslistand to be packed within a small compass and to have the appearance of an ordinary secretary or other article of furniture of like character or form. l

I do not claim a wardrobe bedstead made in two parts and hinged together and to a chest, box or frame as exhibited in the United States Patent, No. 10351.

I claim- 1. The above described improved manner of constructing the case A, and applying it to the parts C, D, such being not only particularly useful in supporting the rear part, D, but beneficial as respects not only the turning of the parts C, D, either upward or downward but in respect to their elevation high enough for the case A, to receive a wash stand underneath the said parts, C, D, in manner as described.

2. The arrangement of the folding legs, Z, o, p, with respect to the part C, and a leaf G, applied thereto and operating therewith substantially as specied.

E. WHITNEY.

Vitnesses:

R. H. EDDY, F. R. HALE, Jr. 

